Knitting machine



p 0- H. H. HOLMIES 1,776,809.

KNITTING MACHINE File eb. 2 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 30, 1930. H. H. HOLMES KNITTING CHINE Filed Feb. 28, 1928 I II I 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INYENTOR Sept. 30; 1930. H. H. HOLMES 1,776,809

' KNITTING momma Filed Feb. 28, 1928 5 Sheets-Shut 3 M MM $4M rota-ryadevice.

Patented Sept. so, 1930 UNITED STATES HENRY HAROLD Ho ivrns, or mnrorssrea, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR T WILDT & COMPANY, I

ATENT OFFICE,

LIMITJEI) QFLEICESTER, ENGLAND, naturist: COMPANY KNITTING MACHINE Application filearebiuaies, -1e2s,sri 1 No;257;621, andfin Great Britain; April 5, 1927.

This invention consists in improvements in or relatingtoknittlng machines, and has for itsob ect to provide nnproved means for producing patternsin the knitted fabric with the aid of :a designer wheel, drum or like Hereinafter, forlorevity, such a wheel, drum or theplike will be referred to inclusively by the term 1designer wheel or wheel. 7 i 1, t 7

The type of designer wheel to which the present invention relates is, that comprising a plurality of movable or removable bits which areiintended operatively to engage the needles or needle jacks, which are so disposed in the wheel that the length of each bit will fibexsubst'antially radial with respect tothe associatedneedlezcylinder when in a position to co-operate with aneedle or needle jack therein, and which are each provided or formed "with one or more projections or recesses; The position, in the lengths of the b1ts,0f such pro ections or recesses varies,

as :between one bit-andanotheninaccordance with .thepatt-ern to be produced. Co-operatring with the :bits are .selector 'elements, such,

as inovablecams, one allocated to each ofthe several positions in the lengths of the hits at which a projection or recess may occur. Thelpurposeof this'combination isto select certain "bits which, in their-turn, will effect 'ai selective action on the needles .(byaraising or by failing :to raise certain of them 'or byraisin'g some ofthern higherthan others), thus causing the stitch .made by a selected needle to differ from that made byflan unselected needle. For instance, the difference may ioccurin the nature of the stitch or the kind or icol'our of the yarn or yarns taken bythenee'dles. i i

Hitherto, it has been proposed, through .theagency vot the selector elements, to slide the .bits lengthwise (iue. radially. of a=disclike designer .wheel) into and out from the path of the. needle butts and thereby LtO select 'andvraise certain of the needles in accordance with thecpattern to-be produced.

The present'invention comprises the combination ofa designer wheel and cowoperating selector elements therefor ha-ving the bits pivotallymounted in the wheel andeach selector element movable into and out from aposition in-which itcan operatively engage its appropriate bits and swing them about their pivots. The purpose of thus swinging the bits is'to causethem, by their movements,

to efiect the requisite and desired selective action .on the needles. V q 7 Preferably, when the bits are formed, with projections, the latter on all the bits are of tone and the same height; thatis tosay, they all extend the same depth from that edge of the bit .whiclrwill be adjacent the selector :element. v

The invention also includes other features of novelty which will be more fully understood from the following "description oi one :invention FigureQvis anelevationiof the parts shown in Figure :1

Figure 3 is a detailedview showing, inside looking in the opposite direction to thatof .Figure t T i 1 Figure '4 is a a detail showing the formation of the ends of the-selector levers; v

'Figureti is acsectionuon the line 5 of Figure :1 in a plane normal-to the surface of tll8 Wl1G8l'flIIC1lS-a truesection with the e22- Jeeption, for the sake of clearness, of the il 'lustrat'ion of .the wheel trick itself,fiand s,

Figure 6 is 'a development oit'i the interior 'o'frthe cainebox in the region of thedesigner wheel showing the relative positions of the *severalxcam's thereini v v Like referencenumerals indlcate like parts 1n allthefigures of the drawings. a

In the example .Lillustrated, the designer xu'rheel ;L1s =arranged, as in the caseof known :designerxwheelsyso that its axis is inclined r-with respectato the lengths of the needles containedinthe needle cylinder 11. Hit is applied tothat type ofinachine in which the ram-box revolves around the needle cylintderythedesigneriwheel is to be understood 1 elevation, :two adjacent selector elements" as supported from the cam-box or a part as soci'ated therewith so as to revolve in company with the cam-box around the needle cylinder. In doing so, it is also revolved about its own axis. If, on the other hand, the invention is to befapplied to a rotating cylinder type of machine, the designer wheel will be held fixed in space and will be rotated axis may be effected by any form of drive; for

example, by means of a gear. wheel or a ring of teeth 12 on the designer wheel adapted and intended to mesh with a ring gear on the needle cylinder. For this purpose, the cylfinder ribsmay be formed to provide gear teeth by shaping them or the teeth may be supplied on a separate ring gear secured to the-cylinder. As afurther alternative, the designer wheel may be rotated by engagement of the needle butts or the butts on needle jacks with the tricks of the desi ner wheel..

The wheel 10 is in the fbrm of adisc-like member having radially-formed tricks at the inner end of which there isan annular rib 13. In each trick there is a bit 14 having a hooked inner extremityto pass over and to pivot on the rib 13, and a cover ring 15, secured to a boss 16 which is coaxial with and is itself secured to the wheel disc 10, serves to hold the bits in position.

The bits are formed with projections 17 which extend upwardly from them when they are in position on the wheel, and the position of the butts 17 in-the lengths of the bits will vary as between one bit and another (for instance, see the two bits illustrated in Figure 2) in accordance with the pattern to be produced. V I

Co-operating with the bits is a plurality of selector devices, each comprising a number of levers 20 arranged to extend at one end over the designer wheel substantially at right-angles to adiameter thereof. In the actual construction illustrated, the levers are in the form of bell-crank levers mounted to rock on a spindle 21 which is carried in a fixed frame 22 carried on an annular plate 23 that revolves in company with the cam-box. One arm of'each bell-crank lever lies over a pat: tern drum- 24 in which projecting cam-like members 25 can be secured' In the end of each bell-crank lever is a set-screw 26 by which adjustment of the lever in respect of the cam-like elements 25 can be made. The other end of the bell-crank lever 20 extends over the pattern wheel as shown, and thesethe major portion of the length of a bit. There may be any number of such levers, and in the example illustrated, there are twelve of them. .T he bits will have projections on them which correspond in position, radially ofithe wheel, to any one or more of the levers. "The cam-like elements 25 will be arranged in circular zones around the drum 24 there being as manysuch zones as there are levers In order operatively to engage a lever 20 with a bit 14, there is interposed between each'lever and its bit a sliding foot 27 of the shape shown in FigureB. The foot is formed with an upwardly-extending shank portion, and all the shank portions are received in acomb or: slotted guide member 28, which latter is carried at the end of a cranked support 29 mounted on the frame 22. The

feet 27 are all normally held upwardly, that is, away from the designer wheel, each by a spring 30 anchored at one end to the foot 27 and at the other end to a bracket 31 secured to a side of the comb or guide member 28.

As will be seen from an examination of Figures 1 and 3, the shanks of the feet 27 are arranged alternately throughout the series of feet on opposite sides of the centreline of the'slot or comb 28.. The co-opcrating ends of the levers 21 are alternately long and short. The extremity of the short arm is formed as shown at 200 in Figure 4, and that of the long arms as at 201 in Figure 4, from which it will be seen that the latter is cranked .so as to pass overthe edge of the comb or guide member 28 towards the far side thereof to engage with its appropriate shank.

The guide or comb member 28 isformed with slots to receive the ends, such as 200 and 201, of the levers 20 so as to guide and steady them in their movements.

It will be seen, therefore, that when a cam 25 011 the drum 24 engages the end of a lever 20, the latter will be rocked about the spindle 21 so that its other extremity is depressed to move the foot 27' into a position at which it will engage'the appropriate projections 17 on the bits 14; and all the bits which. have projections coming within the influence of the particular foot 27 that has beendepressed will themselves be depressed seriatim as the designer wheel 10 revolves on its axis.

In order to produce a change in the pat tern, it is necessary thatthe drum 24' be racked round to bring, at required intervals, a different set of cams, suchas 25, into operation. For this purpose, there is secured to the spindle of the drum a ratchet wheel 40. A clawker 41 is pivotally carried at the end of one arm of a bell-crank 42, and the latter is pivotally mounted about an axis 43 in the frame 22. At the other end of the bell-crank 42, there is an anti-friction wheel 44 which traverses a rising cam 45 mounted lit} ona stationary part of themachine." Cams, such as, 4'5, may be disposed at intervals around the periphery of the needle cylinder in accordance With'the numberof steps that his desired to rack the drum 24 during each revolution of .the mai box. Alternatively, a

. cam, or cams, such as 45, maybe carried by a part that is movable into andoutot the path of'the wheel 44: at desired times. The insertion 0f each such cam into thepathof the wheel i liwill be controlled by mechanism Well understood in this class of machinery. Itwill be observed, lioweventhat whenever the roller 44: rides over a cam, such as 45, the bell-crank 42 will he rocked onxits pivot and the clawlzer 41 will rack the drum around one step and'will be retracted into engagement with the next tooth in succession on the ratchet wheel when the wheel 44 is lifted by the cam 45. A spring'46 normally holds the clawker 41 pressed towards the ratchet wheel. 40 and another spring e7 normally holds the bell-crank lever so that the wheel {His pressed towards the annular member 23 and the cam, such as45. Each racked movement of the drum .410 may serve to bring a different cam or different set of Jca-m's 25into operative position in relation to the bellcranl'rs 20, or more than one racked step may be needed for this purpose according to the requirements of the design. From the de-- scription of the above parts, however, it will be clear that under the control of the drum 2% and the intermediate belhcranks 20 and teet27, the bits 14 can be selected in accordance with a predetermined pattern due to the (fact that the bell-cranks 20 are actuated in a predetermined sequence from the drum 24c.

lVhen the bits are on the-upper surface of the designer wheel asillustrated, they are arranged to be depressed \vhen'they are not required to elevate a needle. A bit in the depressed position'is illustrated in Figure 5, in

which figure all the feet 27 are shown in the depressed position although it will be understood that duringa large portion of the patterning, only one or two of the feet will be thus depressed The relativeposition of neediewith respect to the bits illustra ted at 48 in Figure 5. When the bits are notdepresscd, they are in afposition to engage the butts oi. the needles or needle jab s and to raise them to the required patgheight. The bits are normally mainfin their raised positions by means of spring fingers 49 securedto and projecting radially T330111 the ring 13. WVith each bit 14, thereis associated one spring finger, such a's l9, which presses on the underside of the bit assliown. in order that duringthe'rais ing of the needle there shall be no danger at the resistance of a spring, such as 49, be comi-iig llexed, a dividing cam50 is tiro'vided. The-canrSO extends from a bracket 51 fixed to the eam boX-so thatthe d'esigner wheel 10 will rotate relativelyto the cam 50. As the bits approach the dividing cam, :a tapered tlieaw or vfork engages the underside of the cam 50. These two positions. are clearly shown in Figure 6, the left-handbit representing one that has not been depressed and the right-hand bit representing one that has been depressed. The dividing cam 50'serves to operate on the bits 14, and iii the foamboxthere is anotherdividing .cam 52 for the needles so that the butts of the needles that have been raised by the bits 14 will ride over the cam 52, whereas the butts of those needles of which the associated bits have been depressed, will be directed to the underside of a the cam 52.

The latter, therefore, completes the upward or raised IIIOVGIHGHUOT those needles which are to be raised to a patterning height, and following the selection of-the needles by the-cam 52, aiiother lifting cam 53 serves to also all the needles to a knitting height to take in a ground thread. The cam 52 serves to raise the selected needles totake in splat .ing .or patterning thread as in the example. llustrated.

The relative patterning and ground thread feeder positions are indicat- 1 ed .at 54; and 55 respectively.

a stitch after they have passed from the .in'liuence of the cam 53. There may be any desired number of designer wheel-s, such as 10, and sets of cams in the CttlIl-bOX asmay be round ecessaryor desirable according to the size of the machine and the nature of the fabric to be knitted.

It will be appreciated that the construction is subject to many modifications without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

The usual stitch'cam, such as 56, 1s provided withinthe cam-box to cause all the needles to make 1100 1. The combination "of a designer Wheel ment, said projections differing as between one bit and another in their positions in the lengths of the bits, and all said projections being otthe same height, and selector elements allocated respectively to different proections-and each capable of operatively enging {inappropriate one ofsaid projections tor the purpose described.

1 2. The combination of a designer wheel having a plurality of bits each pivotally mounted in the wheel, selector elements each capable of operatively engaging with and swinging" appropriate bits about their pivots tor the purposedescribed', and a bit-dividing cam which is sodisposed as operatively to engage said bits'after they have been influenced by the selector elements and which serves to guide and retain selected and un selected bits in their relative positions while they are operative for design control. a

3. The combination of a designer wheel having a plurality of bits each of which is pivotally mounted in the wheel and has a fork at its outer extremity, selector elements each capable of operatively engaging with and swinging appropriate bits about their pivots for the purpose described, and a bitdividing cam which is so disposed as operatively to engage said bits after they have been influenced by the selector elements, the forked extremities of the bitsbeing so shaped that each fork can alternatively embrace the dividing cam to be guided thereby or it can ride over the surface of the cam according to the position into which the bit is moved by a selector element. J

4. The combination'of a designer wheel having a pluralityof bits each pivotally mounted in the wheel, and selector elements each capable of operatively engaging with and swinging appropriate bits about their pivots, for the purposedescribed, each selector element comprising a pivotally-mounted lever movable towards and away from the bit in a direction vto swing the latter about its pivotal axis.

5. The combination of a designer wheel having a plurality of bitseach pivotally mounted in the, wheel and selector elements each capable of operatively engaging with and swinging appropriate bitsabout their pivots for the purpose described, each said selector element. comprising a pivotallymounted lever and a separate plunger operatively connecting said lever with appropriate bits and movable in a direction to swing said bits on their pivots, and a slotted guide for all the said plungers.

6. The combination of a designer wheel having a plurality of bits each pivotally mounted in the wheel, and selector elements each capable of operativelyengaging with and swinging appropriate bits about their pivots for the purpose described, each selector element comprising a pivotally-mounted bell-crank, one arm of which can be operatively engaged with the said bit, and the other arm is for engagement with selector-actuating means. 7

7. The. combination of a designer wheel having a plurality of bits each pivotally mounted in the Wheel, and selector elements each capable of operatively engaging with and swinging appropriatebits about their pivots for the purpose described, each selec torelement comprising a bell-crank, a separate plunger engaged with one arm or" the bell-crank and serving operatively to connect the latter with appropriate bits, and a slotted guide for all the said plungers.

v 8. The combination of a designer wheel having. a plurality of bits each pivotally mounted in the wheel, selector elements each capable'oi operatively engaging with and swinging appropriate bits about their pivots for the purpose described, each selector ele ment comprising a pivotally-mounted bellcrankand, a separate plunger engaged by one arm otthebell-cranl: and operatively connectin it with appropriate bits, and selective actuating means for engaging the ofiher arm of said bell-crank.

9. The combination of a designer wheel having a plurality of bits each pivotally mounted in the wheel, selector elements each capable of operatively engaging with and swinging appropriate bitsabout their'pivots for the purpose described, each selector element comprising a pivotally-mounted bellcrank and a separate plunger engaged by one 111 of the bell-crank and operatively connecting it with appropriate bits, and a rotary device bearing selective actuating means for engaging the other arm of said bell-crank.

10. The combination of a designer wheel having a plurality of bits each pivotally mounted in the wheel, projections on said bits which difi er, as betweenone bit and another, in their positions in the lengths 01" the bits so that they lie in one or anotherof plurality of annular zones coaxial with the wheel, selector elements allocated one to each of said zones, each selector element being capable of operatively engaging with and swinging about'their pivots the bits whose projections are in the zone oi the selector.

11. The combination of a designer-wheel having a plurality of bits each pivotally mounted in the wheel, selector elements each capable of operatively engaging with and swinging appropriate bits about their pivots for the purpose described and a bit-dividing cam which is so disposed as operatively to engage the bits to raise them to a full height whereas the selector elements serve only to assist in raising the bits to a height sufiicient to be engaged by the 'dividingcam but not to a height sufficient to obtain the requisite selection.

12. The combination of a designer-wheel having a plurality of bits each of which is pivotally mounted in the wheel and has a projection for engagement by a selector ele ment, said projections difiiering as between one bit and another in their positions in the lengths of the bits, and selector elements whichare allocated respectively to different projections, which are arranged side by side in a row substantially parallel with the length of a bit when co-operating therewith and which are each capable of operatively engaging appropriate projectionsin order pivotally mounted in the wheel, and has a projection for engagement by a selector element, said projections differing as between one bit and another in their positions in the lengths of the bit, cooperating selector-elements therefor, each of which is movable operatively engage appropriate projections on thebits and swing the latter about their ly engaging with and swinging appropriate bits about their pivots against the action of the resilient means. i

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HENRY HAROLD HOLMES.

' into and out from a position in which it can pivots for the purpose described, the bits being so mounted in the wheel that those portions of them which are operative to move the needles are movable by the selector-elements in the direction of the lengths of the needles.

14. The combination of a designer wheel having a plurality of bits, each of which is pivotally mounted in the wheel and has at least one projection for engagement by a se lector element, said projections differing as between one bit and another in their positions in the lengths of the bits, and said bits being pivotally mounted in the wheel in such manner that they will movea-bouttheir pivots in the general direction of the lengths of the needles which they are to control, and selector elements allocated respectively to the different projections andeach capable of operatively engaging appropriate projections, for the purpose described.

15. The combination of a designer-wheel having a plurality of bits each of which is pivotally mounted in the wheel and has a portion thereof specially formed for engagement by a selector element, said specially formed portions difiering as between one bit and another in their positions in the lengths of the bits, and said bits being each so mounted in the wheel thattheir swinging movements about their pivots will be in the general direction of the lengths of the needles with which they are to cooperate, and selector elements allocated respectively to different ones of said portions and each capable of engaging its appropriate portion, for the purpose described.

16. The combination of a designer-wheel having a plurality of bits each ofwhioh is pivotally mounted in the wheel, and has a portion thereof specially formed for engage ment by a selector element, said specially formed portions differing as between one bit and another in their positions in the lengths of the said bits, resilient means tending normally to retain the bits at one limit of their pivotal movement, and selector elements allocate-d respectively to the different ones of said portions and each capable of operative- 

